ABC2 Extends Kids’ Schedule

SYDNEY: Beginning in May, ABC1 in Australia will replace its morning kids’ block with a breakfast news program, while ABC2 will extend its preschool schedule to 13 hours daily.

ABC News Breakfast is moving from ABC2 to ABC1 on May 1. With that change, ABC2 will run preschool programming from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. "The purpose of the changes to our broadcast schedules on May 2 is to provide our preschool audience (aged up to 5 years) with age-appropriate programming from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days per week, on digital channel ABC2," said Tim Brooke-Hunt, controller of children’s television at ABC TV. “ABC1 will continue to broadcast the children’s programs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday.” ABC3, meanwhile, will continue to run programming for older school-aged kids from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The changes come in time for ABC2’s premiere of Bananas in Pyjamas, which will air daily at 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.